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Renegade! Part one – The Pencils

Renegade! Part one – The Pencils

Here are some pencils I did for fun. I was planning on creating it for a Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention. The convention was looking for art to be added to their silent auction. I created one that was inspired by sequential storytelling, a giant comic book page! The drawing is on a 24″x19″ 2-ply Bristol board paper. I used a 9.0 HB mechanical pencil and kept to mostly quick and gesture line work. In the middle of working on the piece, I realized the con was looking for work around the size of 16 inches. Mine was a little too big. I decided not to enter it but still wanted to finish it. I was having too much fun working on a piece so big. The pencils were the first step in the piece I titled: Renegade. Next, I’ll ink it.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

A Visit to Fantagraphics in Seattle

A Visit to Fantagraphics in Seattle

A few months ago I took a much-needed vacation. The first I’ve actually taken since moving to Santa Fe in 2008. My girlfriend’s brother invited us to his home in Seattle WA. For the week he took us to many cool places. We got to see the waterfront, the city’s booming downtown, and art galleries. On our second to last day there, he offered to take us to a comic shop his friend used to work at. Knowing that I’m a comic fan & aspiring comic artist. To my surprise, the comic shop was The Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery.

Fantagraphics is the world’s most notable independent comic publishing company, best know for titles like Ghost World, Love & Rockets, and the works of R. Crumb. I’m more of a fan of superhero/sci-fi comics, but I have read these comics too. I completely believe that comics are a legitimate form of art and literature. This has been Fantagraphic’s belief too since it started publishing in the late 1970s.

Is was very cool to browse the bookstore and see all the cool underground-type comics. The bookstore isn’t your typical comic shop. They were no back issues, mostly selves of paperbacks. All Fantagraphics titles too. I saw a lot of titles I’d never really heard of, but all were very interesting. It’s great to see the underground/independent comic scene doing so well in Seattle. In this new world of the internet and instant downloads finding a comic shop full of art, people and music is always an awesome site to see.

I’m very thankful that I got to opportunity to visit this really cool comic shop/gallery. Even though I didn’t buy any comics there. I do have a huge respect and appreciation for Fantagraphics and the comics they produce. (Check out the cool Super Heroes painting) I did find a great deal on sketch paper; a small booklet for 3 dollars and an 11×17 pad for 7 bucks. After leaving I was very inspired to start working on my own personal comic project.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

Survival of the Dead Special Showing

Survival of the Dead Special Showing

I’ve been a huge fan of zombie movies, have been since I was a kid. It’s cool to see so many new zombie fans in the past few years. When I first saw George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead back in the day, I was blown away. He created the modern-day incarnation of what a zombie is. More importantly, he uses these zombie outbreaks to explore the human condition. Something lacking from a lot of modern-day zombie movies.

I was very excited to hear he was working on a new zombie flick (6th), “SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD”. Unfortunately, it didn’t get a mass theater release. I was content with the knowledge I would see it, but probably not until it hit video (DVD). But on a random trip while hitting up the local comic shop I came across a flyer for a 2-night special show of the movie. Yes, I would get the opportunity to see it on the big screen!

There were only three showing! I made it to the final showing on Saturday. The movie was a classic B-style horror film. A few great moments that made me jump. I even got the last free poster they were giving away! – Yay!

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

Fright Night 4th of July Weekend Drawing Jam

Fright Night 4th of July Weekend Drawing Jam

The original cult classic Fright Night movie has always been one of my top favorite vampire flicks. So when I heard there was going to be a remake, I was very excited. It turns out the Assistant Prop Master on the film was looking for comic book artists to work on the movie. They were looking for completely original work in the genre of monsters, demons, dark goth, swords/sorcerers, witches, devils, and all things scary. The film director would then review all the submitted samples. Wow, what an opportunity!

Not having a lot of this type of work in my portfolio I decided to do a jam session and create some. The samples need to be received by July 5th. So I spent all day of July 4th penciling and inking several pieces. I created some zombie comic pages and a few monster pinups. ( a Werewolf, Frankenstein type create, and a Vampire.)

To be honest, these weren’t my finest pieces, so I wasn’t overly surprised when I wasn’t chosen for the project. But I had a blast working in a different genre. It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone and explore new territories. It’s also really cool to know that a local comic artist will have his or her stuff in a major motion picture!

Here’s a sampling of the pieces I created in my 4th of July Horror Drawing Jam!

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

I Am An Avenger

I Am An Avenger

Yes! I Am An Avenger! A few months ago Marvel Comics was heavily advertising their relaunch of the Marvel Universe into The Heroic Age. The Avengers was the headlining title for this new direction. Receiving several new title relaunches. As a promotion, Marvel announced a contest to be an Avenger. Found on www.IAmAnAvenger.com.

Basically anyone could sign up, send a photo, and hope to be chosen. Whaza! A few weeks later I received this cool email from Marvel comics. Congratulations True Believer! I won. I was chosen to the ranks of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers. My photo would be highlighted in the upcoming first issue of the new Marvel monthly comic, the Secret Avengers. so if you get a chance check it out.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

Creating Cool New Characters for The REPLICANTS Project

I’ve been participating in a fun collaboration with some great comic artists in The REPLICANTS Project.

What we are doing is creating our own characters based on existing characters. Similar to how Marvel Comics Squadron Supreme was based on DC Comics Justice League, and how the Watchmen characters were based on the Charlton characters. We’ve mashed up half the 70s X-men and half the Justice League into a Heroes and Villains team.

Creating Cool New Characters for The REPLICANTS Project

The idea came from Dean Rivet who set up a blog on Posterous. The blog’s name is The REPLICANTS Project. We create the character inspired by that week’s chosen character. We design original costumes, character names, and back story. We then email the post to a Posterous email and PazoOoW it appears on the blog.

The Heroes

Wonder Woman, Thunderbird, Sunfire, Storm, Nightcrawler, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman

The Villains

Wolverine, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Cyclops, Colossus, Banshee, Atom

I’ll be posting the process I’m using to create my characters; from pencil drawing and inking to the final coloring in upcoming blog posts. Here’s a list of the characters that we are using as inspirations for The REPLICANTS Project.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

24 Hour Comics Day 2009 – Part 2

The Half-Way Point!
Participating in 24-Hour Comics Day. Here I am 12 hours into the challenge. Not as far ahead as I had planned. But still having fun. I originally planned to have the comic done within the 1st 12 hours. I’m actually on pages 6 and 7 at this point. Not even the halfway mark. I honestly didn’t think I would finish, but I knew I wasn’t going to give up. (I did finish the 24-hour comic, at exactly 11:57 am…. with 3 minutes to spare.)

As I started to fall back on the pages and the time was moving forward, I thought what can I do to catch up and finish? I decided to work on pages very similar to Marvel Comics’ new format of widescreen comics. That’s where you place your panels stretched out through 2 pages. Like several widescreen shots. Marvel’s title Dark Avengers is very well known for this.

Once I decided to use this technique I was able to catch up. It gave me a great opportunity to create some very dynamic angle shots. Once I gained my confidence that I could finish the comic the story just flowed out of me. It’s full of action and fight scenes. It was really a fun comic to do. The story ends up with soldiers, ninjas, villains, and even a giant monster.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

24 Hour Comics Day 2009 – Part 1

24-Hour Comics Day 2009 – Part 1

This year I participated in 24-Hour Comics Day again. It was held from October Saturday the 3rd to the 4th. I had such a blast with it last year that there was no question I would do it again. The goal is to create 24 comic pages in 24 hours. It’s a very challenging exercise. You come to the table with no idea of what you are going to write and draw, and from there you create a 24-page story.

I decided to stay home and work on the 24-hour comic on my drawing table. I was committed to participating no matter where I did it. The first few hours were tough, the year before I created my 24-hour comic with the help of my girlfriend as my inker. This year I was working completely solo. I was finding it hard to find a fast rhythm. I was really digging what I was coming up with, but I was just a little slower than I originally wanted to be.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

Grimm Creeper, Hand Scythe Weapons

Grimm Creeper, Hand Scythe Weapons

Sometimes you can find the most awesome stuff in the most unexpected places. This last weekend I was at the supermarket buying groceries and out of nowhere, my girlfriend pulls out a Hand Scythe. She intended to scare me, but instead, I was very excited. This plastic toy was a perfect match to the weapon used by one of my characters, the “Grimm Creeper”. I had to buy it. Luckily I was able to find a second one too.

Halloween is always a great time to find plastic weapons and cosplay items. Last year we found a cool life-size Captain America shield, and this year it’s the Grimm Creeper’s scythe weapons.

In my original sketch of the Grimm Creeper, I had drawn his weapons very similar to the ones I recently found. In later drawings, I modified and stylized the scythes. After holding and simulating how the weapons work in a fight (I was testing them out in the supermarket), I’ve decided to go back to my original concept: a simple and direct weapon.

It’s really great having these props. I now have several ideas on how he can wield his weapons. I know that it will help me to come up with better action poses when I draw his fight scenes.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.

I See Dead People – Zombie Sketches for Dark New World Zombie Comic Book

Zombie Sketches for Dark New World Zombie Comic

Here are some quick Zombie Sketches. To help keep the Dark New World zombie comic book fresh and new, I decided to sketch out a bunch of zombies’ faces. This way, I can choose which ones I want to use in the comic. I don’t just want a bunch of stereotypical bland zombies. My goal is to have over 50 different zombies already designed for the comic when I start penciling the sequential pages.

I’ve been looking at people to get ideas for the different-looking zombies. I’ll be at the mall or the gas station, looking at the characteristics of all the different people. So basically I’ve been people-watching and re-imaging them as zombies.

I’ve tried to make them retain some of the human characteristics, but still bring the horror I feel when I think of zombies—with some rotting flesh, biting jaws, and dead eyes.

This blog post was originally published on my former website, Comic Book Graphic Design and has now been migrated here to RSC Arts, Artist Blog.